MTV ACTS REAL SMALL AND CRAPPY WITH JANET JACKSON

You didn't see Janet Jackson on TRL the day her album was released. You didn't see her video the week before it was released on the network either. There was no special album release special, no video retrospective, not even a feature on MTV.COM. As far as MTV was concerned, Janet was invisible. It is quite clear that MTV is punishing Janet Jackson for her Superbowl wardrobe malfunction.

Despite what anyone in the world says and I am prepared to get a ton of email regarding this article. There are two things that I believe:

1) Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction wasn't an accident. She claims that she did plan a wardrobe reveal but that there was supposed to be something underneath. There was something underneath alright-a starburst shapped nipple shield. She also said show producers weren't aware of the wardrobe reveal. I just don't buy it. I think she planned it for shock value and it blew up in her face. Now she says it was an accident, but me, I just don't buy it.

2) MTV is definitely punishing Janet. Believe if Justin Timberlake had a project coming out he would be all over the tube.

It wouldn't be so obvious that MTV was shunning Janet if they hadn't embraced her so much in the past. She was the first recipient of their ICON award several years ago. Over the years we have seen countless Janet Jackson specials when she has a new album coming out. We have seen her videos debut on MTV before they premiere on BET. We have seen Janet perform on the MTV awards on numerous occasions. Janet was an MTV darling. No matter what she had coming out, MTV was there to promote it whether it be a movie or an album.

MTV hasn't publicly admitted that they are punishing Janet. As far as the video is concerned they claim they didn't receive it in time to premiere it the week prior to her albums release-although the clip was airing on BET and VH-1.

From a consumer standpoint, it was quite obvious to me that MTV was shunning Janet. I finally found a Janet Jackson mention on the MTV website under new releases. What I read was just plain mean.

Regarding Damita Jo from the MTV Website, "Janet Jackson's name hasn't been in the papers for a while, so we'll throw her a bone and mention that her new album, Damita Jo, arrives Tuesday, featuring the flirty first single "Just a Little While." Now, if only there was something she could do to get some publicity ..."

The new release article credited to MTV in house scribe Abby Goodman just seemed like a mean jibe or at least overly sarcastic. Another truly mean tone to the statement is they mention her first single as "Just a Little While," when it is a well know fact that single was shelved and "I Want You," is the true first single and video release from Damita Joe.


Janet Jackson is getting support from other venues. She has made appearances on David Lettermen and the Ryan Seacrest show. She also made a album release day appearance on BET's 106 & Park. BET also aired a recent Janet Jackson interview and retrospective.

Another thing I find funny is how Janet is suddenly "Black." Of course Janet has always been an African-American woman, but lately she has really been vocal about her struggles as an "African-American" woman and the strength that she has found, note her Soul Train award speech when she speaks of the reserves of strength that she has as an African-American woman. What irked me about her statement is that it just didn't seem genuine. It reminded me of Kobe Bryant on the Kids Choice Awards talking about Martin Luther King after he won an award. Why is it when these huge cross-over artists get in trouble they suddenly rush back into the arms of the African-American community?


Will I buy Damita Jo? I don't know. I was a big Janet fan back in the day. As a freshman in high school I even learned the entire routine to "Miss You Much" and "Rhythm Nation" for a dance troop I was involved in. Musically, her last album I really liked was her 1993 release Janet. I totally missed out on The Velvet Rope. I did purchase All For You. I like Janet, I'm not that thrilled with anything I have heard form Damita Jo so far, but if I catch it on sale it might make it home.

I just think it is so unfair that MTV is so blatantly acting small and crappy with Janet Jackson. Sure she may have cost them millions of dollars if they are never allowed to produce the Superbowl Half-Time Show again, but to just stop showing an artists that I'm sure their viewers are interested in is small.

I truly believe that had it been a white artist that had a "wardrobe malfunction" such as their darling Britney Spears, they would never turn their back on them during a vital promotion week or ignore their album release.

 Purchase Damita Jo

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Dorrie Williams-Wheeler is a very married, quite eccentric, multi talented chick with way too much time on her hands. She is also the author of Be My Sorority Sister-Under Pressure and the editor for Tha Biz, check her out on line at www.dorrieinteractive.com.

 

 
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